Britannica
Sources used in this answer
Why are most lunar mountains rounded rather than steep and sharp?
Created from Britannica articles
using AI.
AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
Moon
(Left) Near side of Earth's Moon, photographed by the Galileo spacecraft on its way to Jupiter. (Right) Far side of the Moon with some of the near side visible (upper right), photographed by the Apollo 16 spacecraft.
Lunar mountains are generally tall but lack steep or sharp peaks because they have been eroded over time by the constant, unending rain of impacts from space debris. Unlike on Earth, where geological activity and weathering processes shape the landscape, all lunar landforms are subject to this continuous bombardment, which gradually wears down their features.12